Another mass killing of trees has taken place in Longueville on Sydney's lower north shore, just months after more than 200 were cut down in a nearby suburb.

I wonder if the fines are enough, assuming they find the people? I’ve heard that it’s cheaper or more profitable to just accept the fines.

Councils can issue a maximum on-the-spot fine of $3,000 for illegal tree removals by individuals, or $6,000 for businesses. Mr Wrightson said the council was getting legal advice about the best course of action, which could include seeking penalties of up to $1 million through a prosecution in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

300 tress x $6000 = $1.8million

That’s big if you chopped the trees for one house, but what if you chopped them for 10? Perhaps you would still get more than $180,000 extra each if they had better views?

  • bestusername
    12·
    7 months ago

    I don’t understand; why do this? If someone gains a “better” view, then isn’t it blindingly obvious who cut them down?

    • WaterWaiverOPEnglish
      10·
      7 months ago

      That’s probably not enough to hold up in court. They could be getting framed by a competitor builder. The trees might have been accidentally cut (eg a contractor misinterpreting the location). All sorts of things.

      • bestusername
        9·
        7 months ago

        You don’t accidentally chop down 300 trees in the middle of the night, let alone without a single person seeing or hearing a thing.

    • ghostdoggtv@lemmy.world
      3·
      7 months ago

      I don’t know much about Aussie evidentiary standards but in murrican, that argument alone wouldn’t get you beyond reasonable doubt